Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn lauded Zach Ertz to the media on Monday.
Quinn opened up his presser with the sad news of Ertz tearing an ACL on the crushing hit directly at the knee in Sunday’s loss at Minnesota. But Quinn spoke more about Ertz’s value to the locker room and the franchise than about his statistical performance in Washington over the past two seasons.
“He has meant a lot to our team, both on and off the field,” Quinn said. “He’s been an ideal teammate to help set a standard and about habits and so, we’re all bummed for him. I think you probably saw that just yesterday, and everybody kind of gathered around him.”
Indeed, it was a very emotional moment for Ertz, one that was not only about the pain of the injury. That was already recognizing the severity of the situation, the likelihood that his career was going to end right there on that cart. So, it hit Ertz hard, and that is certainly understandable.
Quinn expressed that he had spoken briefly with Ertz on Monday.
“I just had a quick conversation with him today because I hadn’t coached him before, so, you know, you don’t know somebody and he was actually the first person, you know, that [General Manager] Adam [Peters] signed here and so he has brought a lot and I think like the habits that’s what stuck out to me more than anything of doing the extra, not getting bored with the details, whether it was getting the jugs, footwork, the technique part of it. So, there was a reason why this type of success took place.”
Ertz had been an All-Pro with the Eagles, but they sent him to the Cardinals when they thought Ertz was sliding downward. The head coach at that time in Phoenix was Kliff Kingsbury. Kingsbury knew the work habits and the type of veteran leader and veteran model that Ertz could be for Washington in Quinn’s first season. He was right, Ertz was huge in 2024. They certainly don’t win 12 games and two playoff games without Zach Ertz in 2024.
“It was over and over of doing the things and not getting bored doing them. So those are the type of elite habits when you’re putting a program together, you’re like, ‘okay, that’s what it looks like and I want to point that out whenever I can’. So, it’s been significant for us for sure, the production on the field. You know, obviously, having that, you know, a tight end available. We knew a rookie QB was going to be coming in here to be a factor, and so, he was an impact and more.”
On the field, Ertz in 2024 contributed 66 receptions (9.9), seven receiving touchdowns, and 38 receiving first downs. Ertz certainly kept the chains moving, helping the Commanders make their magical run to a 12-win season. Even in this season of 2025, four games are remaining, and Ertz has collected 50 receptions (10.1) for four receiving touchdowns and 25 receptions for a first down.
No doubt, tonight Jayden Daniels knows what a help Ertz was to him, and the other tight ends certainly recognize Ertz was the leader, the model for the group. Best wishes to Ertz in his recovery, and thanks for two successful seasons.